Matthew 13:10-17
Christian Standard Bible
Why Jesus Used Parables
10 Then the disciples(A) came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?” (B)
11 He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know,(C) but it has not been given to them. 12 For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.(D) 13 That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see,(E) and hearing they do not listen or understand.(F) 14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You will listen and listen,
but never understand;
you will look and look,
but never perceive.(G)
15 For this people’s heart has grown callous;
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears, and
understand with their hearts,
and turn back—
and I would heal them.[a](H)
16 “Blessed are your eyes(I) because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.(J) 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but didn’t see them, to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them.(K)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 13:14–15 Is 6:9–10
Matthew 13:10-17
English Standard Version
The Purpose of the Parables
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, (A)“To you it has been given to know (B)the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 (C)For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, (D)even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because (E)seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, (F)nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
(G)“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears (H)they can barely hear,
and (I)their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and (J)understand with their heart
and (K)turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But (L)blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 (M)For truly, I say to you, (N)many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Read full chapterThe Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
